Hoist the broom up the rig for Samba Pa Ti, featured in the November pages of the 2022 Ultimate Sailing Calendar! This cutting edge TP52 is one of only five boats to win a ‘clean sweep’ in 100-plus years of Transpac Races from Los Angeles to Honolulu. That’s first to finish, first in class and first overall (hence the broom).
Carving frothy white sideburns through the Pacific, this stunning perspective of Samba in the 2009 Transpac is one of my favorite images. Even though this super high performance boat is sailing on the edge through the Molokai Channel, the crew looks focused but relaxed: a hallmark of John Kilroy and his fine-tuned team.
The TP52s were fully up to speed by this time, having been launched in 2001.
Ultimate Sailing was there for the genesis of this new breed of yachts designed specifically for the 2,225-mile downwind run to Hawaii; when the Transpac Yacht Club spearheaded the development of a box rule for a boat that was simpler to sail and required less crew than the ULDB 70s; yet could still compete in shorter course and buoy races.
There’s an excellent article on the evolution of the TP52s, and spin-off Pac52s (like Invisible Hand, exploding through the Santa Barbara Channel at the bottom of the November 2022 Ultimate Sailing Calendar page) – check it out here:
And now, I want to switch gears and talk about November: when the weather cools but families and friendships warm. November means a lot of different things to different people. Did you know it’s National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month? Football season is in full swing and holiday music is blaring everywhere.
And of course there’s Mo-vember – when guys stop shaving their beards and moustaches to raise awareness of men's health issues.
But around my home, November is known for NaNoWriMo! National Novel Writing Month is a movement that encourages people to write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November.
My daughter Michaela was a recruit by the talented writer, Betsy Crowfoot Senescu, many years ago and at 15 took a stab at her first novel. Two years later, at the age of 17, she completed her first 50,000 word novel, which won her recognition in her age group and five copies of her book!
As daunting as it sounds, the structure, motivation, community and goals provided by NaNoWriMo help inspire nearly half-a-million people A YEAR delve into this challenge, and succeed. Michaela’s positive experience with NaNoWriMo helped launch her career as an editor and writer, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
As she readies for NaNoWriMo 2022, she says, “NaNoWriMo has honestly been a game changer in terms of accountability and community. It feels almost like an international holiday! There's something truly motivating and safe about the event, knowing that you, among thousands of others, are all plodding along through the same artistic journey.”
What a cool perspective and approach to life’s challenges. Whatever it is you’ve been plodding through, waiting to start – or finish – November is the month! Wrap up that project you’ve been procrastinating over, tidy up those loose ends, and let’s get ready for a fantastic New Year!
Of course you’ll need your 2023 Ultimate Sailing Calendar to keep you organized and on track. New calendars are in stock now: visit www.ultimatesailing.com to order yours – and some stylish new holidays gifts too.
Everywhere there’s a pop of color – in the spinnakers, graphics and the depth of the sea – adding to sailing’s multi-sensory sport, art and passion. ‘Like the intense vermilion and marigold of Fast Exit II’s sail plan; the tones emblemizing the force and fury of the yacht as it plows through the azure waves of Hawaii.
Sharon Green
Author